LeBron: "I Can't Defer"

[rondohondo]

The Heat went out of their way to showcase Dwyane Wade as the alpha dog prior to their preseason opener on Tuesday night, but LeBron James isn't ready to defer to his new teammate.

Wade went last in pregame introductions and when the Big Three posed for pictures James and Chris Bosh were on opposite sides of the long-time Heat superstar.

Regardless, LeBron admitted that he can't be a follower.

"I can't defer," James said. "I'm never in defer mentality."

via  Adrian Wojnarowski

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/69439/20101006/lebron_i_cant_defer/

 

[perks-a-beast]

why would he admit this on the 1st game of pre season?? LBJ is many things. intelligent is not one of them.

[crownsy]

why would he admit this on the 1st game of pre season?? LBJ is many things. intelligent is not one of them.

Because the entire offseason people have been ripping him for deferring in game 3 and 5 of the celtics season and saying a real leader would have imposed his will on us?

Which I agree with, but he's been getting killed by the basketball media for receding all his career.

[BballTim]

Regardless, LeBron admitted that he can't be a follower.

"I can't defer," James said. "I'm never in defer mentality."

via  Adrian Wojnarowski

  I guess he must mean other than that whole joining whichever team Wade went to thing.

[GreenFaith1819]

lol....yeah - Wade had better get onboard, quickly. MIA is no longer "His" team......Lebron is not looking to exclude Wade or Bosh, but he clearly intends on being the "Alpha"........

[Assassin70]

They can fight over our scraps all they want.  They still are going to have to beat us in a 7 game series.  Good luck with that.

[the_Bird]

Best news possible.  Let them fight.  It'll be like the 2004 Lakers all over again. 

[get_banners]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

[GreenFaith1819]

They can fight over our scraps all they want.  They still are going to have to beat us in a 7 game series.  Good luck with that.

Yep. That's IF they get by ORL.

[Prof. Clutch]

I just read the actual Woj article and I think the RealGM article has skewered this story a little bit to an extreme by just taking a few select sentences.  I'd love to know the actual question that was asked to Lebron to prompt the "I can't defer" comment.

Either way, it was an easy opportunity for Lebron to be showcased last night, Wade went down after three minutes and Lebron was a point forward for 27 of the 48 minutes of the game.

[jdpapa3]

They can fight over our scraps all they want.  They still are going to have to beat us in a 7 game series.  Good luck with that.

Yep. That's IF they get by ORL.

Yes, that's one of my big hopes of this season: that the seeds play out to a Mia/Orlando EC semis. I think we'll be able to handle Chicago or Milwaukee.

[2short]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

but before he quit he was simply outplayed by a team game
I can see his ego wearing down everyone in that organization within 3 or 4 years

[Chris]

They can fight over our scraps all they want.  They still are going to have to beat us in a 7 game series.  Good luck with that.

Yep. That's IF they get by ORL.

Yes, that's one of my big hopes of this season: that the seeds play out to a Mia/Orlando EC semis. I think we'll be able to handle Chicago or Milwaukee.

Yeah.  I think Orlando would still be the most favorable matchup for the C's, but it would be a killer matchup for the Heat.  If there ever were a team that was built to take down the Heat (other than the C's of course), it would be the Magic.  They have no answer for Howard, and Orlando has the shooting and perimeter defense to cause lots of problems for the Heat.

[makaveli]

Ever since The Big Three came together I know one thing:
NO ONE CAN BEAT THIS TEAM IN A 7 GAME SERIES WHEN HEALTHY

[indeedproceed]

why would he admit this on the 1st game of pre season?? LBJ is many things. intelligent is not one of them.

Because the entire offseason people have been ripping him for deferring in game 3 and 5 of the celtics season and saying a real leader would have imposed his will on us?

Which I agree with, but he's been getting killed by the basketball media for receding all his career.

I think its pretty ridiculous to say a real leader would've won that series. The Cavs were outmatched by a hotter team. Sometimes even leaders lose playoff series.

This "I can't defer" is a high school story if I ever heard it. The only thing that will keep this going is if people keep talking about it. Otherwise it will be just like it started..a lot of hot air.